Support for centrifuges



Fei 13, 1940. A. H. HABERsTuMP SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGES Feb. 13, 1940. YA. H; HABERs-TLJMP 2,190,456

SUPPORT FOR CETRIFUGES Filed April 9. .1937

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 pereatedleli 13, 1940 i V i l d d d. 2,190,456,

, uiuf'rlen` 1 STATES PATENT ori-lcs SUPPORT FOR CENTRIFUGES Alfred H. Haberstump, Detroit, Mich., assigner,

by mesne assignments, to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 9,v 1937, semi No. 135,955

` 13 claims.4 (0l. 21o-63) The present invention relates to a fabricated Fig. 4 is a perspective view l.showing the desupport for a centrifuge, and particularly toa tails of a. portion of thesupport. and/ support lfora centrifugal extractor. v Fig. 5 is a. partial cross-section view,` taken,

-In the copending application of Andrew 0. along the linei--S of Fig. 2. d v

. McCollum and Victor'Lovett, Serial No. 135,954, The supporting means ofthe presentinvenl flied April 9, 1937, (McCollum and Lovett case 1) tion comprisesa front bearing support I I, a rear there is disclosed a support for a centrifuge bearing support I2, both mounted upon a horimounted for rotation on a horizontal axis. The zontally disposed base I3," and assembled from centrifuge lis securedtc one end of a relatively .relatively thin stampings in a manner hereinl short shaft, the other endl or which is mounted after te be described to form a rigid support `for W in a pair of bearings secured to the support. The a centrifuge I4 mounted for'` rotation on a horisupport itself-consists of'a base, avertically-diszontal axis. Thecentrifuge I4 is illustrated as posed, substantially triangular front bearing supa cylinder forming the rotating part of a washing port secured to said base, and a relatively narrow -apparatus, but it should be apparent to those u Yrear bearing support extending diagonally ciown` v skilled in the art that the invention is not lim-` ward through an aperture in the .front support ited to this specifically -illustrated embodiment.' and secured to the latter and to thebase at a The cylinderis surrounded by a stationary caspoint below'the centrifuge. ing I5 and is. secured to a hub I6 of zinc cast The' primary object of the present invention is on the end of a horizontally disposed shaft I1 n to vprovideA a support embodying the 'above dethat is mountedy in cantilever fashion for rota- 'scribed features that can be fabricated and astion in the bearing supports II and I2.v From sembled both readily and economically. Fig. 1 'it may belseen that the shaft I1 is rela- A further object of the invention is to provide tively short as compared to the length of the` a support made of a plurality of stampings so cylinder and that it' is located above the rear u constructed and arranged that when assembled end of the base I3 at a height approximately *25 they form a rigid box-likebearing support. equal to the diameter of the cylinder. The rear A further object of the invention is to. provide bearing. l2 is substantially above the rear end a support comprising rigid box-like bearing supof base I3, while thefront bearing II is spaced porting portions, the parts of `which may be forward therefrom -about one-quarter of the o welded together-to form. thesupport. i length` of the base. The front end of the cyl- 30 A further4 object of the invention is to provide Linder Il is Substantially over. the front end 1 a new and improved bearing housing and sup'- the base. l y porting structure therefor. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, itmay be seen A further object is to provide a new and im-l that the cylinder I4, the particular construction 35 proved supporting structurev for a pair of spaced,- of which forms no part of this invention, comapart axially aligned bearing housings. prises a center panel I9 and a rear panel 20;(vthe Astui further object of the invention ist@ front panel not beine shown) mounted upon a vprovide a pedestal type support for a shaft' con.. plurality of spokes ZI suitably attached to the of a of' parts that may be readily hug 5.a The fner is P'ovdedwh pleral o per ora ons accor ance we own 'Wed-'together in assembled relationship 'to principles of Aliquid extraction.. The hub I6 is secured to shaft I1 lagainst longitudinal rotated displacement by an annular groove and wm appear from the ensumg description, of an longitudinal knurling 23,' respectively. It is pre'-` a'rlgidstructure. Other objects and advantages of the invention I 46 mustn-tive embodiment thereof vented from wearin ainst the casing Iiby a 45 In the course of the description reference is thrust' washer 24'. eafkage of liquid along the had to the following dmwmgs in which: shaft from within the casing II is'prevented by F18 1 is a Side elevwbl, f Support W'iih eA pmi-amy o1 semble seeung rings 2t bearing the nmfuge and driving mens thelefol Shown tightly against the shaft andfconn'ed by an an- 50 in DhhtOm; v v nula-r resilient rubber ring 28, to which they are 50 Fig. 2 isl a rear elevation' ofthe apparatus bonded." Y shown'inElg. 1;. The sealing means is held in place between Flg.`3 i's a partial vertical cross-section view, an annular Arecessed shoplder 42'!l formed on cas- 'takenv along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and shows in ing'l5 and a similar opposin shoulder 28 formed/ 55 detail-the'assembly of thebearing-support; on an annular retaining-ring 9. A 'lllie casing Il 55 andthe retaining ring 29 are secured to the -front bearing support II by a plurality of bolts 3l). An annular packing strip 3| is interposed between the casing I5 and support II in order to provide a slightly resilient connection between these two lbefore proceeding with a descriptionv of these details it may be well to point-out the features of the'supports themselves. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it may be noted that the supporting members are vformed of relatively thin steel stampings suitably formed and, welded together to provide an integral substantially rigid support for the rotatable cylinder I4.

The front `bearing support II is made of a substantially triangular stamping 36 and' a subl stantially U-shaped stamping 31 having a pair of legs 38 and. 39, of which the l'former is welded to member 36 in a, manner to be described specically below. The triangular stamping 36 has a sumcient width at thebase, to which it is xedly secured ,at right angles to the axis of rotation as by welding, to provide llever arms of sufcient length on either side of the center line. of the shaft lI1 to withstand forces in a plane perpendicular to the rotation of cylinder I4when the latter is rotated at high speeds` and particularly.

when the textiles contained thereinare not evenly distributed.

The rear bearing support I 2 is'made cfa stamping 48 having a substantially U-shapedcrosssection and provided withan uppervertical portion 4I welded to leg 39 of the U-shaped intermediate member 31. 'I'he stamping v4I) is relatively narrow and lies substantially in a plane passing vertically through the axis of'rotation of shaft I1. At the level of the bottom of the U-shaped intermediate'member 31 the supporting member 48 is inclined toward the inner bearing support II, as indicated at 42. This inclined portion passes through a central aperture 43 formed in member 36 and thence diagonally downward below the stationary casing I5, as indicated at 44, to a, point vci? attachment to the base. rJvi'he point of attachment is substantially directly below that end of cylinder I4 farthest removed from the bearings.

The three 4members 36, 31 and 40, from which i the bearing support is fabricated, arey formed to provide a rigid, well-braced structure. They are formed with complementary flanges providing additional rigidity, as well as a convenient means for securing the parts, together in a suitable manner, such as by welding.y The triangular member'36 is provided with a peripheral U-shaped channel consisting of an inclined portion 46 extending. toward the centrifuge y(away from the reader, asv viewed in Figs. 2 and 5), a flat portion 4'I lying in a line parallel to'the central I portion, and a peripheral portion 48 extending portions then extenddownward "and upward .at the same angle and terminate in an upper vertical portion 53 around which the peripheral portion 48' extends. The upper vertically ex'- tending portion 53 isperforated and provided with an annular inturned flange 54-for a purpose that will appear shortly.

The form of the U-shaped intermediate member 31 is clearly disclosed in Fig. 4 and consists of. legs 38 and`39 which'extend ina transverse direction when the member is properly assembled,

yas may be seen from Fig. 1. The'leg 38 is proflanges having vertical portions 58 and 59 and inclined portions IIIIv and 6I, respectively. Legs 38 and .39 are provided with' alignedfapertures having flanges 62 and .63 extending in opposite directions from the respective legs.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it may be seen that complementary portions on the U-shaped intermediate and triangular members are'provided by (1)v the upper end of leg 38 and ange 49,l (2) vvertically extending flanges 58 and 59 and the vertically extending portion 53, and (3) inclined anges 60 and'6I and the inclined portion 5I.

Before the above portions are secured together; a bearing sleeve 64, provided with lan Aannular ring of oil-.containing'compound 85 and annular internal shoulders 66 at itsends for Vthe .reception Aof the oppositely disposed anges 54I and 62,

is .inser ed therebetween. Thereafter thefcomplementa y portions are welded together to form a unitary rigid front bearing support capable of resisting substantially -all forces in a plane 'passing therethrough at an angle substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Similar complementary portions are provided ,on leg 39 of the U-shaped member'andthe diagonal member 40 forming the rear bearing support. The latter is given considerable rigidity by a V-shaped channel `iormed substantially ycentrally thereof on the inclined portions 42 and 44.'

'I'he opposite parallel sides of the vertical por,-

tion 4I of the member 40 are provided .with atransverse flange 59 having a shape correspond'- ing to that of leg 39 of the U-shaped member Between these anges is a second f'bearing'sleeve 1I similar in all respects to sleeve 64, having opposite inner annular shoulders 12into lwhich the anges extend securelyto hold the bearing sleeve in place.

Longitudinal movement of the shaft in the bearings. is prevented by a C washer 13 positioned in a groove 14 formed at the end of shaft 'I1.

A resilient movement-restraining means'for the Y shaft is provided by a spring washer 15 held between washers 16 and 11, one of which abuts against the rear bearing 34 and the other. against the c washer.

. In order to give the bearing support additional rigidity the inclined diagonal. member 40 is secured to flangesv 56 and 51 formed on legA 38 Vof the intermediate4 U-shap'ed member.' and Vto'inclined right-angled iianges18 and 19'-formed on the'sides andbottom of the aperture 43. The lower portions of'iange's 56 and 51 are secured to member 4,8 by welding them to rectangular ears and 8I formed integral with the latter .arms on each side of'the center line of the shaft to. resist the side thrust. The rear support also substantially directly below the curved portion of the intermediate member. The right-angled' flanges r18 and 19 are formed with internal di- `mensions corresponding to the external dimensions ofthe Uf-'sh'aped diagonal member 40 so that the latter nests therein near the point whereit passes through or intersects the triang'ularmember 36a.'

The above described 'construction provides a rigid hollow boxlike bearing support capable of resisting forces set up by rotation of the "cylinder Il when the distribution of textiles therein is such a's t o cause an unb'alance thereof. The supportl is made of only' three preformed members .and requires but a slight amount-of welding in its fabrication.' The 'construction is such that the parts can be made .and assembled very economically.

The cylinder shaft isv rotated by means of a Vpulley 83 secured to the shaft intermediate the bearings 33 and 34. The pulley is rotated by a V` belt 85 driven by a pulley iltrotated by a motor Iill suitably mounted in adepressed portion v88 formed'on hase i3. The driving pulley 86' and 'motor 81 are locatedV on" oppositesides of the triangularsupportingmember 36 which is provided with a third aperture '89 through which the driving connection extends. This aperture is made suiiicientlylarge to enable the motor 81 and` driving pulley 86 to be removed for repairs or cleaning simply by releasing the belt and loosening the motor' from the base. It should be noted'that the construction of the support is such thatan endless ,belt 85 maybe used since the belt does not have to beythrea'ded through any of the partsv comprising. the support. The

. belt is niaintainec'i taut by a spring-biased idler .pulley 9| of any suitable construction. 4

The front end of the stationary casing I`is supported b y an upstanding member 92 to which .it may be.secured es by bolts 93; Member 92 isl provided with integral tapered side :arms oriianges 9.4 secured at their lower ends to the vertical sides of the U-shaped diagonal support 40. Member 92 is also secured to a curved end-closing portion 95 provided on support 40, thereby addirigfurther to the rigidity ofthe support.

The apparatus described above' may be secured v.to .a vfloor or the -like by' means'of Aa. bolt `(not `shown) passing through af central opening 96 formed in the vbase 13'. It has'been found satis- `factoryto use only a single centrally located bolt, but it is obvious that a plurality of bolts may be used just as well. I

` The support itself has proved to be substantially rigid and satisfactory in use and has cartributed, then the forces created may be substantial.

These forces-'tend to cause a shift in the axis of rotation whereby the shaft assumes a gyratory as well asrotary motion, butthis tendency toward gyratory motion is resisted by the described support. The front lsupport,'because of its substantially triangular constructiomlresists vertically acting'forces and side'th'ru'st aswell,

because the base portion thereof, provides lever tallized and .crack after long use. y .f '.f.,

' 'From the-above description it is apparent that resists vertically acting forces and side thrust, because of its rigidv connection to thefront'supgyratory movement of the shaft. .f Y.

However, the" rear support, being-made of relatively thin stamps isf slightly iiexiblezand,w-hi1e it tends-to resist V,any lateral movement fof the shaft, permits slight gyratory movement :ofxthe shaft. Thus, the shaft-v l1 is not.alonef;subjected to stresses created .by unbalanced loads .and there crys-f.

is accordingly less vlikelihood :that -it -Will-be the-v support' is substantially rigid and: .relatively light.- -It is made of a comparatively few metal port, thereby acting with the latter -toarestrict stampings which may be'readily Weldeditogether..

I claims-1 "1. A' support' for a centrifuge :adapted- -to .be rotated bya shafty mounted for rotation on 'a substantiallyhorizontal axis ony said support -including,` incombination, a base, afirst member..Y .mounted ina vertical position on said base for supporting said4 shaft at a pointadjacent the centrifuge, said member being provided Ivvitha centrally located.r aperture having vertically extending side and diagonally inclinedf bottom flanges, and a relatively narrow second `member for supporting said shaft at a pointspaced farvther from 'said centrifuge than the rst mentioned point, said member ylying substantially in a plane passing vertically throughv the axis of rotation and extendingdiagonally-downward vthrough .said aperture to said base `and having sideand bottom walls, said second member having its sideand bottom walls secured. to the flanges extending fromsaid aperture and its lowerend -to said base.

2. A' support for a centrifuge adapted to be rotated by a shaft mounted for rotation onI said Asupport including, in combination, a base substantially parallel to the shaft, an aperturedl iirst-y y member mounted on said base perpendicular to the shaft forsupporting said-shaft at 'apoint adjacent the centrifuger a second member lying substantially in a' plane perpendicular tothe base and passing through the axis of rotation and extending .diagonally 'downward through ...the aperture in saidvrst-mentioned memberto said base for supporting said shaft at a point spaced farther from said centrifuge .than said first-mentioned point. and a substantially Au-shaped thirdmember connected to and securing together the portions `of the two first-mentioned members-extending abovegthe aperture. i

3. A support for a centrifuge adapted to be `rotated by a shaft vmounted for rotation on a..

substantially horizontal axis on saidl support, in-

cluding in combination, a base, a ysubstantially triangular transversely extending member mounted vertically -on said base for supporting said shaft adjacent said centrifuge, said member f being provided Witha central aperture anda peripheral flange extending away from said centrifuge, a relatively narrow member Aextending diagonally downward through said apertureto said base for supporting said shaft at a 'point' spaced farther from said centrifuge than the first mentioned point, said membervbeing provided with a peripheral flange extending toward the centrifuge; and means including transversely extending flanges extending from said peripheral flanges landa substantially U-shaped transversely extending member connected to and se- 4 curing together the portions" of seid two' met mentioned members. extending above said aperture. l i f 4. A 'support for a 'centrifuge adapted vto be rotated by 4a shaft mounted for rotation yon a substantially horizontal axisof said support including, in combination, a lbase, asubstantially (triangular transversely I mounted vertically on vsaid base forv supporting said shaft adjacent said centrifuge, said member being provided with a` central aperture and a peripheral ange extending away from said centrifuge in a `,direction"paralleltto the ais of 'Vrd-'t diagonal portion extending through said. aperture, an end diagonal portion' extending to said base and a peripheral flange extending toward said centrifuge in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and means including integral flanges extending transversely outward from the upper f I flanged 'portions of each of said two first-mem.

vtioned membersA and a substantially lJ-shapedv transversely extending member connected to'and securing together the upper ends yof said 'two first-mentioned members.

5.- A support for 'acentrifuge adapted to be rotated by Va shaft mounted-for rotation on a substantially. horizontal axis on said support including, in combination,v a base, a substantially triangular transversely extendingr member 'mounted vertically on said base for supportingsaid shaft adjacent said centrifuge, said mem-A ber comprising a central lower substantially vertical portion, van intermediate central portion inclined upward and toward thev centrifuge,l a peripheral U-shaped channel -surrounding the central lower portion having its bottom directed toward the centrifuge and a depth such thatl the central inclined portion extends beyond the bottom of the-channel and'includes aportion of the tside wall and bottom of the-channel, an upper transverse flange formed integral with the latter, e

an' aperture formed in said lower central portion, a relatively narrow lmember 'lying .substantiallyff in a plane passing vertically through the axis of rotation for 'supporting said vshaftI at a point spaced farther from said centrifugefth'an said first mentioned point, said second member 'com- ,prising f a vertically extending upper portion spaced from the upper end of said rst member. a diagonal intermediate portion extending through said aperture and a diagonal end portion extending to said'base, said second-member being provided also witha peripheral flange ex- 'tending toward thecentrifuge, `the upper kportion of which has formed thereon' an integral trans- .verse flange, and a substantially U-shaped member for. securing the two first mentioned 'membersv c 'together to form a rigid box-likesupport, said mentioned members and projections en the side- `facing the centrifuge extendingat right r1 said transverse sides, said projections vhav- `ing uppervertical ends and lower inclined ends,`

said tranverse adapted to extendingl member sleeves' 'in place.'

engage and 'te be welded te the: upperveraeel central portion and the intermediatev inclinedportion A oi the first mentioned member:

6. A support for a centrifuge secured atone end to a shaft mounted for rotation on a substantiallyl horizontal axis von said support -including, in combination., a base, a substantially triangular 4transversely extending member mounted vertically on said base and provided with an aperture for supporting said shaft at .a

point adjacent the-centrifuge, said member being formed withl a iianged aperturesubstantially cenan aperture for supporting said shaft at a point spaced farther from the centrifuge than said first-mentioned point, "said second memberextending diagonally downward through said aperture and below the centrifuge to a point of attachment to saidbasaand a U-shaped member `provided with opposed apertures and located between .said first-mentioned members, said last mentioned member being secured to, said firstmentioned members with said`0pposed apertures in alignment with said first-mentioned apertures.

7. A support for a pair of bearings including,

in combination, a pair of spaced-apart members formed with aligned apertures, a U-sha'ped mem-v ber therebetween provided with apertures in align- 8; A support for a pair of bearings including,

in combination, la pair of bearing sleeves, a' pair of 4supporting members having spaced apart portions proiddedl with aligned apertures of a size to receivey and support ends-of said sleeves; aA

substantially U-shaped member provided with similar aligned apertures in its leg' portions, said U-shapedfmember having its aperture leg-portions spaced apart a lesser distancethan'the aperture portions of said first mentioned members, whereby each of said .sleevesis supported by one of said supporting members and one leg of.

the VU-shaped member. i n

9. A support for a'pair4 ofbearings including, in combination, a pair of bearing `r sleeves provided with shoulders at each' end, a-"ipair ofspacedapart members formed with aligned flanged apartures, a U-shaped member therebetween formed with anged 'apertures in .alignment with,l said nrst mentioned apertures, and means said members in `spaced-apart relationship with thelflanges in said 'shoulders for holding said 10. A support for apairof bearings including,

in'` combination,- a pair'of spaced-apart mem- 'bers formed with aligned iianged apertures, a

U-shaped member therebetween formed with anged apertures in alignment with "saidviirstmentioned apertures. bearing sleeves provided with internal shoulders at their ends adapted to vreceive said. flanges, and means securing` said members in spaced-apart relationship with'the flanges in sleeves in place.Y

1 1. AA supportfor having internally flanged apertures, a

'tially" U-.shapedA member extemally said shoulders for holding said bearing d `pairof bearings including. in combination, a pair f spaced-apart members ainda/i6 flanged apertures, bearing supporting sleeves having shoulders at opposite ends engageable by said flanges, said members being provided with means for securing them together in spaced apart relationship with each bearing sleeve securely held in place by a flange onv one of said pair of members anda iiange on said U-shaped member.

12. A support for a centrifuge mounted at one end to a shaft journalled for rotation in a pair of spaced-apart bearings and means including a motor, a pulley on said shaft between said bearings,

a pulley driven by the motor shaft and belt:

means for transmitting power from one pulley to the other for rotating said shaft including, in combination, a base, a substantially triangular member mounted in vertical position on said base and formed with a first aperture near its apex to provide a support for one otsaid bearings, a flanged second aperture located centrally of said member, and a' third aperture below and to one side of said second aperture, a second member formed with an aperture near its upper end to provide a support for the second of said pair of bearings, said second membery extending vertically downward in spaced relationship' withthe first member and then diagonally downward through said flanged aperture to the base, and a U-shaped member having spaced-apart legs tting between and secured to the .spaced-apart vertically extending portions of' said first-mentioned members providing a space therebetween for said firstmentioned pulley, said legs being formed with apertures alignedwith the upper aperture of the first member and the aperture in the second member supporting said pairA of bearings, said motor being mounted on the base below and to one side of said centrifuge, and having a driving connection to said second-mentioned pulley extending through the third aperture formed on said first` member, whereby the belt connecting the two pulleys may be of the endless type and readily removable without necessity of considerable movement of the motor or pulley driven thereby.

13. Apparatus of the type described including, in combination, a base, an apertured member mounted vertically near the vrear end of said base, a second member having an upper vertical portion disposed behind the upper end of said rstmentioned member and a diagonal second portion extending through said aperture to a point of attachment near the front of said base, Va U- shaped third member connected to and securing together the portions of the two first-mentioned members extending above said aperture and formingy therewith a pair of bearing supports, a vertically extending supporting member extending upwardly at the front of said base, a stationary receptacle mounted between the first and 'last mentioned members, a centrifuge within said receptaclehaving a shaft secured lto and pro'- 

